Professional Photographer | Ultra Trail Runner

Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay

SINGAPORE, 7 December 2012 – Singapore’s first integrated resort Resorts World Sentosa marked its Grand Opening today with a forecast of 17 million visitors for 2013.

The S$7 billion resort has welcomed more than 45 million guests since opening in January 2010. It opened the second of its two anchor attractions a fortnight ago; The Marine Life Park, which is also the world’s largest oceanarium with 100,000 fishes from 800 species, is expected to draw at least 1 million more visitors to the resort in 2013. The resort’s other major key attraction is Universal Studios Singapore.

Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman of the Genting Group which owns Resorts World Sentosa, said: “In 2006, we began with a vision to build a destination resort like no other. Six years on, we have taken our vision into reality, and turned the page for Singapore’s tourism story. The resort has built itself into one of the most desired destinations for families in Asia. Even as the global economy teeters on uncertainty, we remain confident of surpassing our 2012 attendance of 16 million visitors for next year. ”

RWS’s Grand Opening begins with a ceremony officiated by the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong. Mr Lee will unveil an 8-meter sculpture commissioned for the event, Infinity, at a center spot of the Resort, symbolising the Resort’s infinite moments of family fun and excitement.

A gala dinner follows where 1,600 guests will dine on a banquet prepared by 28 Michelin-star chef Joël Robuchon and Singapore’s own celebrity chef Sam Leong. Entertainment for the evening includes performances by soprano Sarah Brightman and China artist Sun Nan at the Resorts World Convention Centre’s Compass Ballroom.

Among the guests will be beneficiaries from the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled (MINDS), who are also the craftsmen behind the evening’s souvenirs.

Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) aims to provide employment training and development opportunities for Persons with Intellectual Disability (PWIDs).

For public guests, the highlight for the evening is a 12-minute firework display synchronised with the world’s largest animatronics performance – Crane Dance – at the Resort’s waterfront. Public performances by local bands and a capella groups will take place across the Resort over the weekend.

Image courtesy of Resorts World Sentosa

Tan Sri Lim added: “Today’s Grand Opening marks a momentous chapter in our journey. We stay committed in ensuring that Resorts World Sentosa continues to be an exceptional destination.” Over the next three months, Universal Studios Singapore will launch a new attraction, the Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase. This will be the world’s first Sesame Street indoor theme park ride specifically designed for the entire family.

At Marine Life Park, new immersive experiences such as ray-feeding, shark and dolphin interaction programmes, as well as sea trek diving and new education and conservation programmes will be progressively rolled out. New entertainment, including a new resident show at its Festive Grand theatre, will be introduced in 2013.From today onwards, RWS will introduce discounted bundled day passes to its anchor attractions – Universal Studios Singapore and Marine Life Park (Refer to Annex B).

Pictures from Press Conference:

ABOUT RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA
Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), Singapore’s first integrated resort is located on the resort island of Sentosa. Spanning 49 hectares, the resort opened in January 2010 and welcomed over 30 million visitors in its first two years of opening. RWS is home to the region’s first-and-only Universal Studios theme park, the world’s largest oceanarium – Marine Life Park, the Maritime Experiential Museum, a casino, luxurious accommodation in six unique hotels, the Resorts World Convention Centre, celebrity chef restaurants, a world-class spa as well as specialty retail outlets. The resort also offers entertainment including a resident magical spectacular – Incanto, and public attractions such as the Crane Dance and the Lake of Dreams. Resorts World Sentosa is wholly owned by Genting Singapore, a company of the Genting Group. For more information, please visit www.rwsentosa.com.

Members of the media from TV crew, photographers and journalists assemble after a quick registration before ushered to their seats.

Former MTV VJ and model Dennis Keller gets the ball rolling as host for this Grand Opening

Opening speech by Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman of The Genting Group & Resorts World SentosaSpeech by Mr Tom Williams, Chairman & CEO of Universal Parks & ResortsMr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Trade and Industry, receiving a token of appreciation from the Executive Chairman of Genting Singapore.Marilyn Monroe—American multi-award winning actress, singer and mode most noted for her Golden Globe Award performance in Some Like It Hot (1959). Her legacy lives on at Universal Studios.A stunt woman wrestles with a villain as part of the Grand Opening act.A Brandon Fraser look-alike from the blockbuster series The Mummy

One of my favourite Director-Marilyn Monroe photo moment — Perfecto!

Here’s a face in the parade I recognized from a previous visit and a photo I took of her posing for my favourite pizza parlor. See link immediately below and you’ll find pictures of Loui’s Pizza Parlor.

Paula Abdul’s palm prints and autograph after the parade. I was getting acquainted with new friends at a nearby eatery and missed the actual hand printing.Security and staff making sure the still-wet slab doesn’t get additional features by making we maintain a safe distance.

The tweet right above refers to this picture but a typo on my part left many confused. Haha! This Indonesian visit let me take a shot of the reflection of USS staff packing up after a successful event.

Walked around helping couples and families take a photo of them when they looked like they could do with some help. Happy smiles! #fb

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MARINA BAY SANDS CASINO is housed in its own building and offers four levels of gaming in a luxurious, spacious setting. Patrons can enjoy a wide variety of popular table games including roulette, blackjack, baccarat and sic bo, and slot machines featuring the latest games such as video poker, and electronic sic bo and roulette. Premium players and Paiza members have access to exclusive gaming and dining privileges at the casino’s upper two levels, which feature over 30 private gaming rooms. Paiza is an exclusive, by-invitation club for premium players who receive a unique level of service including a members-only access bridge linking the casino and hotel. Paiza members enjoy the best of every hospitality amenity available at the Marina Bay Sands and the widest range of gourmet food and premium beverages, all delivered through personalized 24-hour service.

One of the world's largest crystal chandeliers. The Marina Bay Sands casino features an impressive Swarovski crystal chandelier suspended 40 meters over the heart of the casino's expansive ceiling.

Approved gaming floor area of 15,000 square meters, less than 3 percent of the gross floor area of the entire property with more than 600 gaming tables and over 1,500 slot machines.

Dining experiences include two lively noodle bars, The Nest and Tong Dim that are inspired by the traditional Cha Can Tings or Chinese tea restaurants, popular in Hong Kong and Macau. There’s also Fatt Choi Express which offers a savoury array of popular local favourites such as Bak Kut Teh and Chicken Curry Rice, and 24-hour Paiza Dining with the finest Cantonese cuisine and seafood, selected Western dishes as well as personal delivery of celebrity chef menus, especially for Paiza Club members.

RESORTS WORLD CASINO was officially opened at the auspicious time of 12.18pm on the first day of Lunar New Year, 14 February 2010 by Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman of the Genting Group and Resorts World Sentosa. The Resorts World Casino is the first casino in Singapore, a significant milestone in Singapore’s business history. Patrons to the Resorts World Casino enjoy a variety of exclusive treats such as special events and performances, competitions and food promotions, ensuring that their while casino experience goes beyond gaming. A resident band and various guest artistes perform at the main gaming area every day, providing entertainment to casino guests. The latest addition to Resorts World is the world’s first garden in a casino. Named the Garden Court, the natural daylight steaming in and the cascading water features makes this the ideal backdrop for alfresco dining within the casino premises.

Owned and operated by Asia's largest and oldest gaming operator, Resorts World Casino is unrivalled in its intimate knowledge of Asian gaming preferences. The place brims with activities 24/7 and is complemented by unparalleled customer privileges.Resorts World Casino features 500 gaming tables with over 19 different games and 1,300 electronic game machines. More than just gaming, Resorts World Casino is where you can see Dale Chihuly's magnificent glass sculptures, taste some of Singapore's best culinary delights, and watch top-class shows - all these on top of a wide array of table games, slots and electronic games available.